Analysts said the move is indicative of the end of perpetually licensed software, with a number of other large software firms, including Microsoft, moving to cloud-based subscription models.

However, Microsoft has indicated that a move to cloud-only may be premature.

In a blog post, Microsoft’s Clint Patterson said that like Adobe, Microsoft believes subscription software-as-a-service (SaaS) is the future because subscribers are always up-to-date.

“However, unlike Adobe, we think people's shift from packaged software to subscription services will take time,” he wrote.

“Within a decade, we think everyone will choose to subscribe because the benefits are undeniable. In the meantime, we are committed to offering choice – premier software sold as a package and powerful services sold as a subscription,” said Patterson.

Despite this view, he conceded that since the launch of Office 365 Home Premium and Office 365 University in January, more than a quarter of consumers buying Office have chosen the subscription.

“So, perhaps the shift is happening faster than we originally thought, and Adobe is helping blaze the trail,” he said.

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